Roulette tables come in all different forms. Here is a guide on what to expect when you see a roulette table either in-person or online at the casino.
On a European roulette wheel, the sequence of numbers is random and doesn’t follow a discernable pattern. They do go in odd-even fashion, featuring pockets that are black and red which alternate all the way around the wheel.
The sequence goes: 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26
Another thing to keep in mind is that the numbers are evenly divided between low and high numbers. There is one exception and that is how the numbers 5 and 10 are positioned. Because of the layout, that makes it much tougher to predict the outcome of a particular game, adding to the overall excitement of the game.
The layout is pretty simple based on the previous section. A European roulette table shows all the numbers that can be bet on and the green zero is generally at the top. Knowing the different bet types will go a long way as well:
Inside Bets. When talking about the inside betting area, one would be referring to the individual numbers on the wheel plus the lines that separate them. Within your inside bets would be street bets, split bets, corner bets, straight-up bets, line bets, and five-number bets.
Outside Bets. Outside betting refers to the area that is located outside of the individual numbers and includes different groups of numbers instead. Outside bets include things like red/black bets, dozen bets, column bets, high/low bets, snake bets, and even/odd bets.
As the name implies, this is the preferred variation found in American casinos but not in many other places. This version has 38 total pockets to the European version’s 37 pockets, the difference being that there is a green double zero pocket in addition to the green single zero pocket.
Though it may not seem like much of a difference, it is an important one. The double zero pocket gives the house a slightly larger edge during each game. Regular players of online roulette typically prefer the European version because of the reduction in house edge.
Another major difference between American and European roulette wheels is the sequencing of the numbers. On this table, one may notice that there is a more recognizable pattern compared to the European counterpart.
The numbers on an American roulette wheel go clockwise and in the following sequence: 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2
The goal here is to provide a better balance between the number of black and red pockets and the odd and even numbers. The number sequence, compared to European roulette, is not totally random and follows a pattern, alternating between high and low numbers as well as even and odd numbers.
The additional pocket for double zero makes betting a bit different. The numbers found on the layout are in a trio of columns, each featuring 12 numbers, typically found in numerical order. Those numbers will also alternate between black and red. On the outer edge of the table is the betting area where players lay their chips on betting sections or individual numbers.
Inside Bets. Much like the European version, there are inside and outside bets. Inside bets are placed on the numbers or lines between those numbers. Inside bets include the line bet, five number bet, corner bet, street bet, split bet, and straight-up bet.
Outside Bets. Bets placed on the outside of the layout garner this tag. This is the section covering a group of numbers rather than an individual number. Outside bets include red/black, high/low, even/odd, snake bets, dozen bets, and column bets.
Finally, there is the French roulette wheel. It is one of the more popular of the three variants because it offers the lowest edge to the house. That alone makes it the preferred option of the three popular variants. French roulette is similar to European roulette in that there are 37 pockets – featuring numbers 1-36 and a single green zero pocket.
The sequencing of the French roulette table is in a clockwise manner and totally random, showing no discernable patterns. It starts with the green zero and goes in the following sequence: 0, 32,15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26
The biggest difference between this and the American wheel is that the numbers aren’t in consecutive order. Instead, it follows a random sequence and steers away from specific patterns. Like the European wheel, the individual numbers are colored red and black.
There is a commonality of the French table in that it has a betting area on the outside edge of the layout. There are three columns of 12, each found in numerical order and alternating between red and black. Like the other tables, there are also inside and outside bets.
Inside Bets. These bets go on the individual numbers and/or the lines between them. These include the line bet, five number bet, street bet, corner bet, straight-up bet, and split bet.
Outside Bets. These bets go on the outer part of the layout, covering groups of numbers. These include the snake bet, high/low bet, even/odd bet, dozen bet, red/black bet, and column bet.
